CM Equipment Purchasing Do’s and Don’ts Todd Drummond Understanding the do’s and don’ts for component manufacturing (CM) equipment purchasing (wood trusses and wall panels) can save or waste your company 100’s of thousands of dollars at the time of purchase and long after. Everyone knows the building economy is on fire, so it... Read More July 2021 Issue #13264 Page 33
Is One Cut the Same as Two? Glenn Traylor On a recent plant visit, we came across a situation that is hopefully rare. The truss builders had hand-cut floor truss webs at the table in several places because the webs provided with the cutting were mis-cut. The result: a truss that might “look” okay but would not be safe to... Read More July 2021 Issue #13264 Page 43
What is Optimization? Tracy Roe Optimization is a crucial part of success and profitability in our industry. It is something that every component manufacturer works at daily in some form or another. At the same time, however, the word has so very many different interpretations that few have exactly the same approach. In this... Read More July 2021 Issue #13264 Page 54
Set Up for Success: The Build Phase of Design, Make, Build Katie Kormann In the Design, Make, Build (DMB) approach to construction, we’ve focused on the importance of collaboration. By bringing together the component manufacturers (CMs) and trades with the designers and architects early in the Design phase, they can provide feedback on what is possible around... Read More July 2021 Issue #13264 Page 60
Factory & Line Layouts – Ensuring Success for a Startup Chris Scott As prefab manufacturing continues to have a spotlight thrust upon it, new factories are popping up nationwide. If you have ever been a part of a new factory startup, you probably have the scars to prove it – mentally, emotionally, and physically. Every new factory startup is a lot of work... Read More July 2021 Issue #13264 Page 67
Building Developments in the Northeast Anna Stamm On the Cover: This impressive project of mixed use retail and residential units has been fabricated by Cussewago Truss of Cambridge Springs, PA. [For photos, See PDF or View in Full Issue.] Located in Chili, NY, this project is known as Mid-Lakes Greenwood and will contain: 22... Read More July 2021 Issue #13264 Page 72
Remote Office Cell & WiFi Challenges Are you considering working remotely? If so, there are many challenges to consider. One of the biggest challenges is having reliable cell and WiFi signals. In your home office, this may be a challenge that is easily met. On the road, however, this is a challenge that may-or-may-not by easily... Read More July 2021 Issue #13264 Page 78
All Things Wood: The Use of Non-Typical Lumber Grades Anna Stamm In our January 2021 issue, Frank Woeste and Don Bender wrote, “Hybrid Lumber" Grade Stamps Require Special Attention. This article provided information on how to recognize hybrid grade marks and how to calculate hybrid lumber values for truss design. Included was this caution: A... Read More July 2021 Issue #13264 Page 82
Lumber Briefs: Through the Rear View and the Telescope Matt Layman Through the Rear View Of all the lumber folk I know, I am the self-proclaimed King of checkers of rear view mirrors. I use the accuracy of frequency of past repeating patterns to give me confidence in making forecasts for the future. The FDP’s have been fine tuned year over year for 30... Read More July 2021 Issue #13264 Page 110
10 Must-Have Traits for Entry-Level Truss Designers Christopher Gould With the economy in the United States on the rebound, truss designers are in unusually high demand. Unlike other professionals in the building industry, a truss designer is not required (at present) to have any formal education or any type of college degree. Fact is, there is presently nowhere... Read More July 2021 Issue #13264 Page 112